Unique Cardiac Surgery in Odesa

In Odesa, doctors conducted a remarkable surgical procedure on an eight-month-old boy. A special electrode was implanted in the child's heart to help the muscle contract correctly.

Details about the surgery and the child's condition are reported by "Public Radio". The boy, named Hlib, is currently in the intensive care unit.

The parents learned about their son's heart defect after his birth, and this period became quite challenging for them due to significant risks.

Additional specialists were involved in the combined surgery. Using ultrasound equipment, pediatric cardiac surgeons helped locate a very thin subclavian vein.

"We implanted the electrode not in the muscle, but in the heart's conduction system. According to our data, this is the first case found in the literature for such small children. We targeted the conduction system of the heart, this left bundle, and achieved excellent electrophysiological and mechanical results. So first, we provided the electric current, and then we ensured the heart's contraction," said surgeon Yuriy Karpenko.

This operation was unique because it is the first such surgical intervention performed on a child under one year of age worldwide. This garnered international interest, leading to invitations for Ukrainian doctors to the University of Chicago to publish this case in leading medical journals.

"Like everyone, we use artificial intelligence, Google, and the like. All of this can be verified. And this is why such a resonance occurred with this operation. We are very pleased that this was accomplished in our country, in Ukraine, and in Odesa, at our hospital," the doctor explained.

Currently, the baby is in intensive care. The implanted pacemaker will ensure the boy's heart functions for the next 15 years.